HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — Hofstra suspended basketball coach Tim Welsh on Friday after learning through media reports that police had charged him with driving while intoxicated earlier in the morning.

School spokeswoman Melissa Connolly said Welsh has been suspended without pay "effective immediately" while the university investigates the charges against him.

Hofstra hired Welsh in late March. He also coached at Providence and Iona, and spent the past two seasons as a commentator for ESPNU.

Nassau County police said Welsh was found stopped in his Lexus about 1 a.m. at a steady green light at an intersection in Levittown. He was taken into custody and charged with DWI, then later arraigned, where he pleaded not guilty.

Welsh did not answer a call seeking comment and his voicemail box was full. His attorney, Joseph Coluccio, did not immediately return a call for comment. He told Newsday that "we're going to fight this in court."